Roumania Past and Present eBook

The Asyle Helene is supported partly by endowments
and partly by State aid, and is managed by a committee.
In connection therewith is also a boys’ school
at Penteleimon, founded by the Ghika family, and remodelled
by King Charles in 1868, to which a hospital of invalids
is attached.

The girls’ training school of the State at Bucarest
is an admirable institution, presided over by an accomplished
and energetic lady, who expressed great regret that
the want of sufficient funds prevented them from competing
with the Asyle Helene, which is acknowledged to be
of a higher order.

There is also a German ‘Realschule’ in
Bucarest, founded by a benevolent German, at which
the teaching is all that can be desired; but as to
the State normal school for young men intended as
country teachers—­well, we refrain from
expressing any opinion of our own. A learned friend
hinted something about the application of dynamite
to the whole concern; and if it could be done without
injury to human life, perhaps that would be the best
course to adopt.

The one fact in connection with the state of education
in Roumania, however, which forces itself upon our
notice, is the question of teaching the youth of the
country at home.

Primary instruction is sure to progress; it rests
to a large extent with the Government, and in the
course of time teachers will be forthcoming to carry
out the excellent system in its integrity; but as to
applied science and higher education generally, that
depends upon parents themselves; and, modifying a
well-known saying, it resolves itself into the question
of ‘Roumanians for Roumania, or Roumanians for
France?’

III.

And this reminds us of a matter to which we must make
a brief reference, though it will be more fully treated
hereafter, namely, the ethnographical character of
the people of Roumania; for whilst it is unfortunate
that in practical everyday life and in politics they
do not at present rely sufficiently upon their own
internal resources, there is no doubt that theoretically
they are very sensitive and proud of their nationality.
To a stranger visiting the country for a brief period
this is the most perplexing question of all; but the
perusal of its history, and a careful consideration
of the opinions of well-known writers, bring into
prominence certain facts which cannot fail to be interesting.
From the number of tribes and nationalities by which
the country has at various times been overrun, it
is impossible for an unprejudiced thinker to come
to any other conclusion than that, like ourselves,
the Roumanians are a mixed race, although the Latin
undoubtedly predominates; and to the evidence of history
may be added that of the language and customs of the
country. The language not only presents a variety
arising out of the domination of the various races,
but in some respects indicates the nature of that
domination, and the customs have a like significance.
As a general rule the Roumanian language is derived
from the Latin, but there are many words of Turkish,
modern Greek, Polish, and Hungarian or Magyar origin.
Amongst the Latin words are the names of many localities
and towns which have evidently existed since the Roman
period, as witness:—­